Typewriting machine



July 17, 1928.-

G. w. CAMPBELL TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22. 1922 Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed November 22, 1922. Serial No. 602,509.

The present invention relates to means, in a ty 'iewriting machine, for locking the platen-carriage. plat-en case-shift frame and other movable parts against displacement on the main frame, preliminary to enclosure of the machine in a casing. The invention more particularly relate-sto machines of the so called portable class. v

The casing for a portable machine ordinarily fits the machine so snugly as to require the carriage to be centered on the main frame and the caseshift frame to be set in lower-case posit-ionv Furthermore, unless those parts are locked against play, the machine may be injured in the transpoi tation thereof in its casing. Even when the carriage has been centered by a locating; device. a blow on the casino has not infrequent- 1y caused the teeth of the carriages-rick or its drive-pinion to be stripped.

Ordinarily, in the operation of the machine, the carriage-rack is releasable from its drive to permit the carriage to be moved freely by hand or to he jumped by the drumsprinp and an object of the present invention is the provision of means for holding; the carriage-rack disengaged from its drive when the machine is in its casing. s that blows on the casing may not result in iii-- jury to the driving, or other connections, of the carriage.

An object of the invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive device, operable with case and certainty, which functions not only to locate and hold the carriage, but also to hold the carriage-arch disengaged from its drive.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means, on such a carriage and carriage-rackqholding device, for locking the case-shift frame against play.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a device on the case-shirt frame for locking the latter to the'main frame, and for centering and holding. the carriage when thrown to such locking; position.

Another feature of the invention is a combined carriagelocator. case-shiftframe lock. and carriagerack-holding device which may made of a single piece of sheet-metal formed in one or more stamping or bending o iierations, and which may require only a pivot screw or pin for its attachment to the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l. is a view, in side elevation. of the platen-carriage and a part of the shift frame and main frame, with the locking and holding device of the invention in its nor mal or inelfectivc position, for typewriting.

Figure 2 a view similar to Figure 1 except that the locking and holding device of the present invention is, shown in effective position, with the carriage and shift-frame held against movement and the letter-feed rack held out of engagement with its drivepinion.

Figure 3 is a view, in front elevation, of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4: is a front, detail view of the locking and holding device; the same being), in its normal or ineffective position, below the path of the carriage.

Referring to Figure 1, the platen is shown as on an axle 11, journaled in the side plates 12 of the platen-carriage. The side plates 12 are connected at their lower edges by a cross-piece .13; the forward portion of which is supported by ball-bearings 14: on a rail or cross-piece 15, forming part of the shift-frame. The upper rear portion of the carriage is supported, by means of rollers (not shown), on a rail (not shown), on the shift-frame. The carriage is, therefore, mounted for easy movement in letter-feed and return directions on the shilt frame, whatever the case-shift position of the latter may be. The shift-frame, with the carriage thereon, is movable up and down between case-positions by means of shift-key levers and connections (not shown), but which are well understood in the art. and, for a fuller disclosure of which. reference may be made to United States Letters Pat.- ent to Villiam A. Dobson, No. 1,335,956, granted April 6, 1920' The carriage is urged in letter-feed direetion by the usual spring-drum (not 1 ill.

7 this means comprises a rack 17 on the cariii riage, adapted to engage a pinion 18, journaled on the shift-frame; the pinion 18 having fast thereto a ratchet-wheel 19, controlled by a doga'ocker (not shown) which dog-rocker is actuated through a universal bar, by the 'keys, to permit of step-by-step movement of the ratchetwheel 19, pinion 18 and rack 17, with the carriage, as the keys are actuated in the typewritiiig operation. \Vhen the carriage is to be returned to the beginning of a. line, or is to be moved in counter-letterfeed direction, against the action of the springs-drum, the rack 17 is released from the pinion 18. To permit 01 such releaseof the-rack, the sameis' carried by arms 20, one at each side of the machine, and journaled on pins 21, set into the side plates 12 of the carriage. The arm 20 at the right-hand side of the machine is shown as being'one arm of a bell cranli, the other arm 22 of which terminates in a boss23. which is received in a yolte24 on one arin25 of a lever pivotally mounted on the axle 11. -"lie rearward arm 26 of this lever terminates in a finger-piece 27, which, upon being depressed, causes the arm 22 of the hell crank to be rocked forward and the reels carrying arms to be rocked upward to lift the rack 17 out of engagei'uent with the pinion; thereby releasing the carriage to the action of the spring-drum. Q

or effecting line-feed, rotary movement, of the platen, the axle 11 thereof may be provided, at its right-hand end, with the usual hand-knob 28, and, at its left-hand end, with line-space mechanism of the usual character. This line-space mechanism may comprise a ratchet-wheel 29, fast to the platen-axle, a pawl .30, for engagement with the ratchet, a slide 31,'oii. which the pawl is I mounted, anda bell-crank lever, pivoted tof a brackets-32 on the left-hand side plate 12 o the carriage; the bell-crank lever coiiiprising an arm 83, which connects to and operates the pawl-carr ing slide, and a forwardly-extending armterminating in a finger-piece 34.

The mechanism thus far described is not new with the present invention, but is that found on the Underwood standard portable typewriter.

The lock ng and holding mechanism of the present invention is as follows. Pivoted at 35 to the front cross-piece 15 of the shiftframe is an arm or rocker 37. From its p vot 35, this arm has a downward bend 38. to bring the same below the cross-piece 15. Thence it extends forwardly, at t0 a bend 40, to bring it behind the bar 15. It is thence extended toward the left, as indicated at 41.

At its left-hand end, the arm or rocker 37 i has a rearward offset or plate 42 which may be conveniently utilized as a finger-piece for operating said arm. From the upper edge of this offset or plate 42, a finger or detent 48 is turned substantially horizontally to the right. l V

When the arm 37 is in its Figure 4 posit-ion, the finger 43 is below the level oi the lower edges of the side plates 12 of the carriage, so that the carriage may move freely to the left beyond the linger 43. When, however, the plate or oifset is seized and lifted in such manner as to rock the arm 37 upward around its pivot the finger 43 is interposed in the path of movement of the left-hand end plate 12 of the carriage; and,

if the arm 37 is rocked to the correct eleva tion, the finger 43 thereon will register with,

and be received in, a recess 44 in the can.

riage-side plate. The plate 42 and finger on the rocker, therefore, in the upper position of the same, serve to prevent leftward movement of the carriage beyond the same, and. in fact, are so positioned as to arrest the carriage in center position in respect to the main frame of the machine. The engagement of the finger 43 in the hole or recess 44 in the carriage-side plate prevents return of the rocker or locking device to its normal or ineffective position. a I

The plate or rearwardotli'set 42 of thearm 37, in addition to the finger 43 at the upper edge thereof, has, at its lower edge, a rightward oli'sct, 45 (see Figure 4), which is continued into a downward offset or ear 46. On the lower end. of the ear 46 is a flange or tooth 47, offset to the left. lVhen the rocker is swung from its ineffective, Figure 4, position to its Figure 3 position, the flange or tooth 47 moves upward, and to the left, until it engages under, and is arrested by, a flange 48 on the side plate 49 of the main frame of the machine. This flange 48 is ordinarily present on the Underwood standard portable machine as heretofore marketed. In the position in which the rocker is arrested by engagement of the flanges 47 and 48, the finger 43 at the top of the plate is in alignment or registration with the hole 44 in the side plate 12 of the carriage; that is to say, if the rocker be held upby the finger, with the flanges 47 and 48 in contact, and the carriage be released by the fingei piece 27 and allowed to travel to the left, under control of the hand, the finger 43 would be received in the hole 44. It has been stated that the finger 43 is directed substantially horizontally rightward. Preferably this finger is at a slight upward incline, so that. as the carriage presses to the left, the under face of the finger 43 acts as a cam to exert an upward pressure on the rocker and to crowd and hold the flange 47 to the lilo flange 48 in such manner that the rocker may not be sprung or knocked from its effective position. i i

Even though the carriage were held against leftward movement on the shift frame by mean-s of the plate 42 and finger 43, the shift-frame, together with the carriage, would be movable between case-positions except for the engagement of the flange 47 of the rocker with the flange 48 of the main frame of the machine. This latter engagement locks the shift-frame down in lower-case position on the main frame. The carriage, although free to have movement in letter-feed and return directions on the shift-frame is, nevertheless, by means old inv the art, held against movement upward with respect to the shift-frame. Consequently, when the shift-frame is locked down by the flanges 47 and 48, the carriage is also locked down. The rocker 37, therefore, serves the double function of holding the carriage centered and of locking the carriage and shift-frame against case-shift movement, that is, of clipping the carriage and shift-frame to the main framework, the jaws of the clip being 43 and 47.

The rocker 37 has the further function,

hereinbefore mentioned, of holding the carriage-rack 17 out of engagement with its driving pinion 18 when the parts are locked for placement of the machine in its casing. To this end, the plate or ofiset 42 of the rocker has a third tongue or finger 50, turned at a rightward and rearward incline, from the rear edge thereof, to cross the path of movement of the carriage-rack with the carriage. When the rocker is in its normal, Figure 4, position, this finger is below the carriage-rack 17, and the latter may move freely with the carriage thereover. Upon movement of the rocker to Figure 3 position, however, the finger 50 is brought into the path of movement of the rack 17. Even with the rocker in Figure 3 position, however, the rack 17 may not be moved with the carriage into engagement with the finger 50, because such movement of the carriage and rack to the left can only be had when the rack-releasing finger-piece 27 is depressed, and when the rack is therefore, elevated. The elevation of the finger 50 in the Figure 3 position of the rocker is not sufficient to permit of contact of the rackwith the rocker in the movement of the rack with the car riage to the left while the finger-piece 27 is held depressed. Consequently, the finger 50 will not interfere with movementof the rack and carriage leftward to a position for engagement of the rocker-finger 43 in the hole 44 of the carriage-side plate. At the time of such engagement of the'finger 43 in the hole 44, the left-hand end of the rack is, however, over thefinger 50; and, if at this time the finger-piece 27 is released, the rack, instead of dropping back into engagement with the pinion, falls upon the finger 50 and is held by the latter up, out of engagement with the pinion. A. spring (not shown) is ordinarily employed to insure return of the rack 17 into engagenient with the pinion 18 whenever the finger-piece 27 released. Such spring, however, is ineffective to force down the rocker-finger 50, and rocker, to ineffective position, because the finger 43, being in the hole 44 in the side plate of the carriage, is held by the latter and holds the rocker up against any pressure of the rack on the finger 50.

The casing ordinarily fits the typewriter in such manner that movement of the carriage to the right is arrested by engagement of the knob 28 either with the wall of the casing or with a pad or block thereon. l/Vhen, therefore, the machine is looked, as hereinbefore described, and placed in its casing, movement of the carriage to the right to an extent sufiicient to cause the same to be withdrawn from the rocker-finger 43 is impossible. Upon removal of the machine from the casing, however, the parts may be released by a simple movement of the carriage to the right. Once the carriage is clear of the finger 43, the rocker will drop by gravity to its inefl'ective, Figure 4, position. In fact, the pressure of the carriage-rack on the rocker, after the finger 43 is released from the carriage. Will ordinarily be suificient to throw the rocker to ineffective posi tion if the same fails to drop by gravity. A spring (not shown) may, however, be cmployed for the specific purpose of returning the rocker to its inetfective, unobstructing position when the same is released from the carriage by, a rightward movement of the latter.

The rocker is preferably of a single sheetmetal stamping, bent or formed in one or more operations. In the formation thereof, it may have a strengthening bead, such as indicated at 51, formed therein, and this bead may, as indicated in Figure 3, extend downward on the plate-portion 42 and right ward along the lower offset or finger 45. The locking and holding device. per se, is, therefore, inexpensive, both as to thematerial thereof and the cost of manufacture. Its only attachment to the machine being its pivot-screw 35, it is easily placeable and replaceable if injured, and involves no modification of the standard structure, or additions thereto other than the rocker itself.

It is to be understood that certain features of the invention are not limited to use with a case-shifting mechanism.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I is

platen-car and a onepitice normally-ineffective locking device mohnte'd formovenieht on the caseshift frame and shiftable to engage the main frame for holding the case-shift frame against movement, and to engage the (platen carriage to hold the latter against n'iovement on the case-shift frame, said locking device automatically releasable by .H'IOVOHIGHlL of the carriage to the right.

3. In a typewritil'ig machine, a platen, a main frame, a case-shift frame thereon, a rage movable .in letter-feed and return directions on the case-shift frame, and a one-piece arm pivoted to the case- 'shift frame, said. arm including a linger for engagement with the main frame to lock the case-shift frame, and a second finger on the arm interposahle into the path of movei'nent of the platen-carriage to hold the latter against movement to the left on the caseshift frame, said arm automatlcally releasing itself by its own weight ii'pon movement of the carriage to the right.

l. 111 a typewrit ng machine, a; platen, a

main frame, a. ease-shift frame thereon, a

platen-carriage movable in. letter-feed and return directions on the case-shift frame, and a one-piece arm pivoted to the caseshift fi'i-ime and having a finger for engagement with the main :lirame to lock the caseshift frame, and a second linger vinterposable nto the path of movement of the carriage to hold the latter against movement on the caseshift frame; the carriage having a recess at one end therein to receive an offset of the last-mentioned interposed. finger when the carriagealnitssuch finger to hold. the arm in its effective position.

I In a ti peivriting n'iachine, a platei'l, a shit frame, a. platen-car1'i:'ige movable in letter-feed and returndirections, a rack on the warriage, a pinion for driving the rack and carriage, means for disconnecting the rack' and pinion, and a single one-piece locking device on the shift-frame settable to hold the raekand pinion disconnected.

'6. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a shift-fran' e, a. platen-carriage movable in letter-feed and return directions, a rack on the carriage, a pinion :Eor driving the rack movement, the case-shift and carriage, means for disconnecting the rack and pinion, and a single one-piece look ing device on the shift-framesettable to hold the carriage against movement and to ,hold

the rack andpinion. disconnected.

7. In a typewritingmachine, a platen, a shift-'lrame, a. platen-carriage movable in letter-feed ill'lt'lletlllfr directions, a rack on the carriage, a pinion for driving the rack and carriage, means for disconnecting the rack and pinion, and a single one-piece locking device on the shift-frame shiftable to engage the carriage, uponrelease of the rack from the pinion, to hold the carriage against movement and to prevent re-engagementof the rack with the pinion while the carriage is so held. I

8; In a typewriting machine, a main frame, a platen, a platen-carriage n'io vable in letter-feed and return, directions, a rack on the carriage, a pinion for driving the rack and carriage, means :t'or'disconnecting the rack and pinion, a case-shift frame, and'a normally-ineffective one-piece locking device mounted on the case-shift frame and sett-able to lock the case-shift frame and hold the rack and pinion. disconnected.

9. In a ty 'iewriting machine, aplaten, a platen-carri movable in letter-feed and return directions, a carriage-drivefmeains for breaking the drive, a case-shift frame, and a' normally-ineffective locking device/shiftable on the case-shift frame for engagement with the carriage toh'old. the same against the carriage-drive broken.

10 In a typewriting machine, a main frame, a platen, a case-shift frame, a platencarriage movable in letter-feedand return directions on the case-shift frame, a rack on the carriage, a pinion on the case-shift frame for driving the rack and carriage, means for disengaging the rack from the pinion, and. a device on the case-shift frame movable to lock the latter to the main frame, and having extensions thereof, one of which, when the device is so moved, is interposed in the path of the carriage to serveas stop therefor, f

and another of Which concomitantly obstructs andprevents.re-engagement of the lit't'lC with the pinion. I

11. In a typewriting machine, a main frame, a. platen, a case-shift frame,a platen carriage movable in letter-feed and return directions on the case-shift frame, a rack on thecarriage, a'pinion on the case-shift frame for driving the rack and carriage, means for disengaging the rack from the pinion, a device on the caseshift frame movable to lock the latter to thema'in frame. and having extensions thereof, one of which, when the device is so moved, is interposed in the path of the carriage to serve as a stop therefor, and another of which concomitantl o'bstreets and prevents rel-engagement of the frame locked, and

(i ll rack with the pinion, and means whereby the carriage holds said device locked to the main frame.

19.. The combination with a typewriting machine having a carriage and a shift-frame Whereon it travels, of a nofinally-ineffective lock stationary with respect to the shift frame and shiftable to position to prevent advance of the carriage to the left, and a transportation casing for said machine, comprising a cover, which fits overthe carriage and acts as a stop against movement of the carriage to the right, said lock releasable by movement of the carriage to the right after the cover is removed.

13. The combination with a typewriting machine having a carriage and a shift-framc whereon it travels, of an arm mounted on the shift-frame and normally in ineffective position, said arm provided with a stop, the arm being shiftable to cause the stop to engage the carriageto lock the carriage against advance to the left, a transportation casing for said machine, comprising a cover, which fits over the carriage and acts as a stop against movement thereof to the right, and means upon said arm to lock the shift frame, said arm releasable by movement of the carriage to the right after the cover is removed.

14. The combination with a typewriting machine having a shift-frame and a carriage movable in letter feed and return directions on the shift-frame, a rack on the carriage, a pinion for driving the rack and carriage, and means for disengaging the rack from the pinion, of a normally-ineffective lock stationary with respect to the shift-frame, said lock shiftable to position toprevent advance of the carriage to the left and effective to disengage the rack :from its driving pinion, and a transportation casing; for said machine, comprising a cover, which fits over the carriage and acts as a stop against movement thereof to the right, said lock effective to automatically release itself and permit the rack to re-engage its driving pinion upon movement of the carriage to the right after the cover is removed.

15. In a portable typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a letter-feeding carriage, escapement-mechanism therefor, a case-shifting frame, a normally ineffective locking device movable to position to lock the case-shifting frame against shifting, also to release the carriage from the escapementmechanism and to prevent the carriage from being moved in one direction, and a man chine-transporting casing which maintains the locking device engaged, said locking device including a part which is engaged by the carriage to maintain the lock effective, and which is automatically released upon movement of the carriage in the opposite direction after removal of the casing.

to lock 16. I11 a'portable typewriting machine, a nain frame, a platen, a letter-feeding platencarriage, escapement-mechanism therefor, a case-shifting frame, a single finger-piece, means normally ineffective but operable by a movement of said linger-piece to position said case-shifting frame agaii at shifting and for locking the platen-carriage against advance movement, and also to release the carriage from the escapementmechanism and arrest it in central position, and a casing for carrying said machine and engaging with said carriage for preventing movement of the carriage in the opposite direction and for locking the finger-piece in effective position.

17. In a portable typewriting machine, a main frame, a platen, a letter-feeding platencarriage. escapement-mcchanism therefor, a case-shifting frame, a single finger-piece, means normally ineffective but operable by a. movement of said linger-piece to position to lock said case-shifting frame against shifting and for locking the platen-carriage against advance movement, and also to release the carriage from the escapemen'tmechanism and arrest it in central position, and a casing for carrying said machine and for preventing movement of the carriage in the opposite direction, said locking means inehiding a part which is engaged by the carriage to maintain the lock effective, and which is automatically released by movement of the carriage in the direction opposite to letterfeeding after the casing is removed.

l8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a main framework, a carriage, a case-shift frame, a de ice normally disengaged from the framework but movable to position to clip the carriage and ease-shift frame to the framework, and an escapement mechanism for said carriage including a carriage-release member, said clip device having means to intercept said carriage-release member and hold it in releasing position.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a main framework, a carriage, a case-shift frame, a device normally disengaged from the framework but movable to position to clip the carriage and case-shift frame to the framework, and an escapement mechanism for said carriage including a ca riageaelease member, said clip-device having means to intercept said can'iage-ii'elease member and hold it in releasing position, and means supporting said clip-device to enable it to prevent movement of said carriage in letter-feeding direction.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a main framework, a carriage, a case-shift frame, a device normally disengaged from the framework but movable to position to clip the carriage and case-shift frame to the framework, and an escapement llU ' ing means to intercept said carriage-release member and hold it in releasing position, means supporting said clip-device toenable it to prevent i'no've nent of said carr age n letter-feeding direction, and a maclnne-eover holding the carriage against retrograde movement and thereby preventing the carriage irem being released from the control of saidelipdevice.

21. a typewriting machine, the comb nation with framework, a releasable earriage and a shift frame, ofa part upon sa d carriage, a catchco-operable with the tra ns worlt and normally 'idlc, said frameworkcatch movable to position to present 1t to .saidcarriage-part [the k fid r ag advanceaineans to enable said frameworkca'tch to co o'perate with said carriage-part to maintain the carriage released and to holdthe'carriage from advancing and the shift frame from sl'iifting, and a cover restraining said carriage against retrograde movement. i

7 22.111 a portable typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a letter-feedlng platen-carriage, a ease-shitting frame, a normally ineffective locking device movable to position to leek thelease-shifting frame against shifting and also to prevent movelnent of thecarriage in one d rect on, and a inachin e-transporting casing which prevents the retraction of the carriage, said locking devi'cediaving a detent which coacts with the carriage to maintain the lock in efiective position, said detent being automatically releasable upon retractionof'the carriage after removal of the casing, and the' loclt being seli'd'eturning after the release of said d erem; I 23. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen-carriage movable in letterfeed and r'etiiin directions and having a hole in its left end, an arm displaeeably mounted on said machine, so asto be normally free of said carriage, an npwardly-extending member on the'leit' end 01' said arm, anda lateral rigl1twardly-extending finger on said member, said arm being swingable upwardly to cause said member to engage against the left end of said carriage and said finger to engage in the hole in the left end or car riage when the latter is moved leftwardly to be centered on said machine preparatory to placing said machine in a carrying case, said finger being disengaged from said carriage on movementof the latter to the right, whereby said arm may be restored to its normal inoperative position. v

2 L Ina typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-carriage movable in letter-feed and return directions and an escapelnen't-niechanism, of an arm displacenation, a platen-carriage, and device for locking said carriage against'leftward move ment preparatory to placing said machine in a transporting case, said device inclnding a pivoted arm on said machine fixed against lateral movement and normally disengaged from sa d carriage, said arm being movable into the path of said platen-carriage-frame.

for arresting the leftward movement of the latter when it is centered on said machine,

a rightm rdly-extending linger on said arm, andmeans carried by said carriage engaging said finger to maintain said arm in operative position. i I l r 26. In a portable typewriting machine, in eonibination, a platen, a platen-carriagefraine snpporting said platen and having an aperture 1n ts left end, a transporting'case,

arranged for enclosing said machine, sons to prevent movement of said platen and said fran e'let'twardly, and a device for locking said frame against leftward movement While in sald case, said devrce including a pivoted arm on said machine fixed against lateral movement and normally disengaged from said frame, a member on said arm arranged to be moved into the path of said platen carriageframe for arresting the left-ward movement of the latter when it is centered on said machine, and a rightwardly-ezgtending linger on said member engaging in said apertnre, said arm being locked in operative position by said finger as long as said case encloses said machine.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-carriage'movable in letter-feed and return directions,"ofan instrumental-ity displaceably mounted on said machine, so as to be normally free of said carriage and movable to a position for engaging the left end of said carriage and arresting the leftward movement of the latter when it is centered on said machine prepar tory to placing: said machine in aoarrying case, and releaseable -from said engagement by moving the carriage to'the right from its engaged position with said instrumentality.

28. The combination with a typewriting machine having a carriage anda shift-frame 25. In a typewriting machine, in combi whereon it travels, of an arm mounted on the shift-frame and normally in inefi'ective position, said arm provided with a. stop thereon, the arm being shiftable to cause the stop to engage the carriage to prevent advance oi the carriage to the left, and the stop being releasable from said engagement 'with the carriage by moving the carriage to the right from said engaged position, and a transportation casing for said machine, comprising a cover, which tits over the carriage and acts as a stop against movement thereof to the right.

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL. 

